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Where Nostalgia Meets Play at Bonus Round…
Step through the doors of Bonus Round Arcade Bar in Downtown Redding, and it doesn’t take long to feel it: The hum of machines, the glow of screens and the unmistakable pull of nostalgia. For Schuyler and Alicia Lane, that feeling is not just part of the experience. It’s the whole point.
For Schuyler, it started early. “Six or seven years old, we had a Nintendo,” he says. “We used to rent games all over town. That’s when I got hooked.”
What began as a childhood hobby quietly evolved into something more. He became fascinated not just with playing games, but with understanding them. “I’ve always been a fixer,” he says. “I love trying to solve the problem.”
That mindset led to his first arcade purchase, a Metallica pinball machine more than a decade ago. When it broke, he took it apart and figured it out. Then he bought more broken machines, fixing them and bringing them back to life. “At first I just wanted a few games in my garage,” he says. “Then it quickly outgrew that.”
It outgrew that so much that Alicia eventually wanted her garage back. “He came home with multiple machines,” she laughed. “And I was like, there’s no way you can turn this into a business.”
At the time, Schuyler was working full time, and Alicia was balancing her career, a master’s program, and raising their young children. The idea of turning a passion project into a sustainable business felt unlikely. Still, he kept going. What started with a single game at Westside Pizza in Anderson turned into SKL Arcades, a growing business that expanded into multiple locations across Shasta County. “I was happy with just a few spots,” Schuyler says. “Then it just kind of steamrolled from there.”
That vision sharpened years ago during a trip to Portland, where they visited a retro arcade bar. One day, they told themselves, they would bring something like it to Redding. It just took longer than expected. “We said we’d do it within five years,” he says. “It took 12.”
Construction challenges, financial hurdles, and the ripple effects of the pandemic stretched the timeline. Alicia remembers wondering if they had gone too far. “I thought, what have we done?” she says. “But we were so close.”
They eventually committed to the space on Pine Street. Family and friends helped, but much of it they did themselves, learning as they went and making countless decisions along the way. “We spent weeks on small details,” Schuyler says. “Things that seem minor, but when you put it all together, they matter.”
Those details are everywhere. From carpet patterns to lighting, décor, and music, everything is designed to create a specific feeling. “At the top of the list was always that we wanted people to feel like they’re stepping back in time,” Schuyler says.
Since opening in January, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. On any given night, the space fills with families, couples and groups of friends reconnecting with games they haven’t seen in decades. “To see people still love these old games as much as I do means a lot,” he says. “You don’t really think about what it’s going to feel like until you see it happening.”
For Alicia, the reaction has been just as meaningful after years of uncertainty. “People come in and they’re just so excited. It’s really cool to watch,” she says.
That excitement often shows up in small moments, like guests spotting a childhood favorite, friends calling each other to come down or regulars returning week after week. “There’s people who come in and see a game and it instantly triggers a memory,” Schuyler says. “That’s been one of the coolest parts.”
The arcade also bridges generations. Parents share games they grew up with while kids discover them for the first time. “At first they don’t think they’re going to like it,” he says. “Then they find something and they get hooked.”
That sense of inclusion extends beyond the games. The Lanes have been intentional about creating a space where everyone feels welcome. “Our goal is a drink in everybody’s hand,” Schuyler says. “And that doesn’t necessarily mean alcohol.”
The menu reflects that, with craft beer, nostalgic favorites, and non-alcoholic options. Alicia helped shape that side of the business, bringing in flavors and ideas that broaden the appeal.
It is a balance that mirrors their partnership. Schuyler brings deep knowledge of games. Alicia brings a strong sense for people and experience. “We thought working together would be hard,” she says. “But it’s actually been really fun.”
For Schuyler, the reward is simple. “Seeing people enjoy it is probably my favorite part,” he says. “And fixing the games. I still
love that.”
It is a long way from the kid searching for arcades on family trips and watching them slowly disappear. “They used to be everywhere,” he says. “And then they weren’t.”
Now, in a corner of Downtown Redding, they are back. And in a world that is increasingly digital, there is something different about a place like Bonus Round. Something you can actually touch. Something you can share.
The technology may have changed. The feeling has not. •
Bonus Round • 1665 Pine St., Redding
(530) 215-3705 • Open Thursday-Sunday
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Article Written by:
Mario Montalvo is a Texas Christian University journalism and broadcasting graduate and spent several years as a local news reporter before transitioning to Public Affairs at Caltrans. Though a Texas native, he now proudly calls Northern California home, combining a storyteller’s eye with a deep commitment to serving and informing the local community.
